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Staff
A Psychiatric Social Worker position in the mental health team which had become
vacant was replaced by one of Senior Mental Health Officer. The officer filling this
position, a qualified psychiatric social worker, has special responsibility for the day
centres and for casework with persons living in the northern part of the Borough.
A Mental Health Social Worker has been seconded from general duties to concentrate
on the special problem of alcoholism and drug addiction, working under the
general direction of a consultant who has a special interest in these conditions.
Staff Training
Two members of the mental health team returned to the department from courses of
whole time training and two more were seconded. One of these is sponsored for a
course leading to the Mental Health Certificate and one to a "Younghusband"
course. An assistant supervisor from the Deptford Training Centre completed a oneyear
course for teachers of the mentally handicapped adult at Durham Technical
College and a member of the Lewisham (junior) Training Centre staff commenced a
two-year course leading to the Diploma of the Central Training Council for Teachers
of the Mentally Handicapped.
An in-service course of six lectures by a consultant from Darenth Park Hospital on
clinical and social aspects of mental subnormality was arranged for members of the
Section. A second course of lectures for Health Department field staff on psychiatric
aspects of their work was conducted by consultants from both Bexley and Darenth
Park.
Student Attachments
Following the recruitment of two Senior Mental Health Officers, the Mental Health
team was able to play a greater part in student training. During 1967, casework
training was provided for three students from full-time social work courses and help
was also given to the training of psychiatric nurses from Springfield Hospital. The
training included a one-week programme of visits to local authority establishments.
One-day visits of observation by nursing, health visitor, child-care and social science
students took place regularly. Four students from the course for Teachers of the
Mentally Handicapped came to the Junior Training Centre for their practical placements
and two students from the Departments of Education of Goldsmiths' College
undertook an educational project with mentally handicapped young men at the
Deptford Training Centre.
Lewisham Association for Mental Health
Members of the mental health team gave much assistance and advice to a steering
committee set up to prepare for the establishment of a Lewisham Association for
Mental Health. The Association was formally constituted at a public meeting held
in October, and a Senior Medical Officer and the Principal Mental Health Officer
attend meetings of the excutive committee as advisers.
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